Even with hundreds of channels on cable TV to choose from, parents often ask, “Where are shows safe for my children?” The PTC has the answer.

There are cartoons on Fox, FX, and even Cartoon Network, but whether some of those shows could be called “family-friendly” is questionable. Where do families fit into the mix? Well, fear no more – the PTC is here to help. Below is a list of television networks you can feel comfortable watching with your children.

UP TV

With a name short for “Uplifting Entertainment,” UP isa network that has repeatedly received Parents Television Council’s Seal of ApprovalTM. The network describes itself as “America’s favorite television channel for uplifting music and family entertainment.” UP shows classics likeTouched by an Angel, Growing Pains, and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, as well as original reality programs like Bringing Up Bates and Bulloch Family Ranch, and many truly outstanding original movies. This channel can be found on channel 188 on DISH Network, 338 on DirecTV, and 224 on Verizon FiOS.

For over 60 years, the name “Hallmark” has stood for quality television, first with its “Hallmark Hall of Fame” specials on broadcast TV, and today with a pair of networks. Hallmark Channel focuses on original programming like the 19th-century frontier romance When Calls the Heart, the newsmagazine Home & Family, and the gentle contemporary drama Cedar Cove, based on the book series by best-selling author Debbie Macomber. Hallmark Channel is on DirecTV channel 312, DISH Network channel 185, and Verizon FiOS 240.

As its name indicates, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries centers on family-friendly movies and series with a mystery component. The channel’s flagship drama is Signed, Sealed, Delivered. Produced by Touched by an Angel creator Martha Williamson, this series follows a group of postal workers who trace lost mail, and who become involved in the lives and fates of the people to whom it was intended. The channel also reruns favorite past mystery series like Murder, She Wrote, and airs many original mystery movies. This channel is available on DISH Network channel 187, DirecTV 565, and Verizon FiOS 239.

The Inspiration Network is a relative newcomer to cable, but features many favorite classic series, including The Waltons, Little House on the Prairie, Daniel Boone, Bonanza, The Big Valley, and Matlock. Starting May 21st, INSP will air its first original series, Brush of Honor, a program saluting the American military heroes who gave their lives defending freedom. INSP is available on DISH Network channel 259, DirecTV 364, Verizon FiOS 286, and AT&T U-verse 564.

Unlike its sister channel Cartoon Network, which shows decidedly mature-themed animation on its Adult Swim programming block, Boomerang is a blend of classic and contemporary animated programming. Found on DIRECTV channel 298, Dish Network Channel 175, AT&T channel 327, and Verizon FiOS channel 258, among the series featured are classics like Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?, The Flintstones, Tom and Jerry, Looney Tunes, and The Smurfs, as well as newer series like Teen Titans and The Powerpuff Girls.

Previously named “The Hub,” this channel combines cartoons with educational programming ideal for children, from Ocean Mysteries with Jeff Corwin, Food Factory, and You Trained Your Dog To Do WHAT? to Transformers, G.I. Joe, and My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Discover Family can be found on channel 179 on DISH Network, 294 on DirecTV, 789 on Verizon FiOS, and 1335 on AT&T U-verse.

Taking on the role that TV Land and Nick at Nite have abandoned, MeTV is the center for favorite classic TV, from The Andy Griffith Show and Gilligan’s Island to The Rifleman and Star Trek. Unlike the other channels named above, MeTV is not a cable, satellite, or internet network; it is a “digital sub-channel,” available over-the-air with nothing more than an antenna on local broadcast TV.

17 Responses to Family-Friendly Networks Safe for Your Kids

Georgi Malchov

May 22, 2018 at 12:00 pm

The following list is comprised of family-friendly channels on Amazon Video, all of which are unknown of until now. The purposes of these channels are listed in brackets right next to the channel name. Enjoy!

UP & Hallmark are not exactly Family-friendly. There ARE some decent shows/movies on them, but some of them are definitely not for children & the commercials should make you cringe! Too much sensuality in them. UP is definitely better than most, but choose wisely when your children are watching these channels.

ABC Family is DEFINITELY NOT CHILD FRIENDLY!!! I saw 2 teenage girls making out on that station years ago and haven’t watched it since, except for the 700 Club. They say it is a “New Kind Of Family”. INDEED IT IS!

Nudity in front of small children on Jet Blue – Discovery Channel NOT SAFE any more

On Sunday 5/17/2015 I took a flight from Orlando to New York City on Jet Blue. The flight left Orlando at 2:17 in the afternoon and landed at about 5:00. Each passenger had their own personal television attached to the seat in front of them. Some of the passengers were watching “Naked and Afraid” on the Discovery Channel. This is a show where a man and a woman strip naked and sleep in the nude with each other in the wilderness. Many of these people are married and have children; however, it is not their spouse they are getting naked with. There were children of all ages that could easily view what most would consider pornography. This show is rated TV 14 many of the children were much younger than 14. Jet blue should have used a filter to make viewing family safe.

The government has turned a blind eye to the ever increasing showing of disturbing pornographic material on basic cable including; nudity, wife swapping, and other sexually deviant programming aimed at kids. The industry is self-regulated so the public has no input on what their kids are exposed to. The public does still however have the power to decide what products to purchase and what products not to purchase. This assault on families couldn’t happen without the sponsors who were;

BYUtv has Some good programs and is very family friendly. My teens particularly love Studio C. It is a sketch comedy show. There is also a drama called Granite flats, a healthy eating show about using whole grains and more.

Amazing Facts Television (AFTV) is a 24/7 Christian television network owned and operated by Amazing Facts Ministries, Inc. AFTV airing Amazing Facts Classics (with its founder, Joe Crews), also airing “Sabbath School Study Hour”, “The Everlasting Gospel”, “Amazing Facts Presents” all presented by Doug Batchelor, current President/Speaker of the ministry. AFTV also airs LIVE evangelistic crusades, documentaries, specials, etc. AFTV is on Glorystar Satellite in North America, Internet, Cable, Roku boxes, etc. It would be nice for AFTV also to be on Apple TV boxes, too. Who knows?

Hope Channel is a 24/7 Christian television network owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Hope Channel carries multiple networks with different languages worldwide on satellite, cable, over-the-air, Internet, Mobile devices and other means. Hope Channel networks carries Christ-centered programming like “It Is Written”, “Breath of Life”, Church services, Sabbath School programs, LIVE evangelistic crusades and for every five years their LIVE broadcasts of the “General Conference Sessions of Seventh-day Adventists”, etc.

Decades will be having their official launch on May 25, 2015. Decades, owned and operated by CBS with Weigel Broadcasting. Decades will be another classic television network will featuring classic series like “The Doris Day Show”, “Happy Days”, “F Troop”, “Mayberry RFD”, “Celebrity Bowling” and others. Decades is also not a cable, satellite or internet network; it will be a “digital sub-channel” available over-the-air with CBS Owned and Operated Stations and affiliates and other affiliates with noting more than an antenna on local broadcast TV.

Antenna TV is another classic television network, owned and operated by Tribune Media. Antenna TV carries classic TV shows like, “Dennis the Menace”, “Mr. Belvedere”, “Bewitched”, “I Dream of Jeannie”, ”Small Wonder”, “The Flying Nun”, and others. Antenna TV is also not a cable, satellite or internet network; it is also a “digital sub-channel,” available over-the-air with noting more than an antenna on local broadcast TV.